This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day– John 6:40

In his perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection, Jesus proved that He was sent from God. And here John records for us Jesus’ own description of the will of God, which sent Him. This is the will of him that sent me, Jesus says, that everyone who has eyes to see me for Who I am, and believes on me, will have everlasting life.

How do you see Jesus? Do you see Him as a good teacher? As a prophet even? Or do you see Him (as He claims in this very same verse) to be the One who has the power to raise the dead when the world comes to an end?

To truly see the Son, Jesus clearly implies, is to believe on Him. It is one thing to give mental assent to a set of Sunday school lessons, to say “Yes” to the question of Jesus’ deity. But it is another thing altogether to trust Him with your life, your ambitions, your purpose and meaning in life.

Do you see Christ as the Lord of your life? To those who see Jesus as the Son of God, and plant their faith firmly in Him, Jesus promises an everlasting life and resurrection at the last day.

In other words, your faith will not be disappointed; it will be replaced with a greater reality than you could ever have imagined.— “A Good Thing”

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.– Eph. 4:32

If I hear it again I think I’ll scream– over and over I hear people say, “A successful marriage is 50/50. No it’s not! A successful marriage is 100/100. Both sides must give their all. I love what Pastor Jack Graham said to a certain couple:

I was talking to a couple in my office one day who were considering marriage. They were explaining to me how much they loved each other in the months they had been together. One of them spoke up and said, “Pastor, when we met it was really love at first sight.”

So I looked at them and told them, “That’s great, and I’m glad you feel like God has already given you that kind of love for one another. But the kind of love that makes a marriage last isn’t love at first sight. It’s love that remains after looking at the same person over a bowl of Shredded Wheat for 40 years! That’s a love that lasts.”

That initial electricity felt between two people, often called infatuation, will always fade. In fact, some people become so enamored with that feeling that it becomes like a drug. So they go from person to person trying to get their next high. Love, on the other hand, lasts long after the feelings of infatuation go away.

You can make the choice to love your spouse. It’s not always easy, but it’s how you’ll breathe life into your marriage. Make that choice today by serving, being patient, and living a life of joy with your spouse. It’s so worth it!        

BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR MARRIAGE BY MAKING THE CHOICE TO LOVE AND SERVE YOUR SPOUSE WITH PATIENCE AND JOY!

—-man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.–1 Sam.16:7
The heart of man’s problem is the problem of the heart. Pastor Stephen Davey wrote: “I have never had a State Highway patrolman stop me and say, ‘Sorry to bother you, sir, but I just wanted to commend you for coming to a complete stop at that stop sign back there . . . here’s fifty dollars—have a nice day!’

Nor have I been pulled over by an officer who said to me: ‘Hey, I noticed you were keeping the speed limit even when you were going down that steep hill. I thought that was pretty remarkable of you to do that, so I want to give you these gift certificates to the Mall . . . so long!’ This will probably never happen . . . you think?

Truth is, those who abide by the law will often be viewed by men as the “godly” ones. It happened in Jesus’ day with the Pharisees and Sadducees; they deceived men, as well as themselves, into thinking that their own good works were enough to make them righteous before a Holy God. They fully expected God to shower them with gift certificates to the bazaar!

Although it is important to obey the law, it isn’t the real test of godliness. Actually, it’s possible for you to keep the speed limit and still be an ungodly person. It’s possible to stop at all the stop signs, hold the door for women, chew with your mouth closed, clock-in to work five minutes early every morning, and perform good deeds galore—and still be completely unholy in your heart.

Although everyone may sing your praises, the question is: what does God see when He looks at your heart?

God reminded Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7 that man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Even today, God is the only one who sees past the gimmicks—the facade, the clothes, the make-up—directly into the heart of every person.

The encouragement of this truth rests in the fact that, because God sees the secret intents and motives of every person’s heart, He actually does reward those who keep their hearts pure. Though the world may often get it wrong and may praise deceptive people, God never will.

The world rewards people of influence; God rewards people of integrity . . . and our reward is just ahead.”

I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels– Psalm 81:12

Sin results in separation from God. But here we are also reminded that it means being joined completely to our own desires and schemes.

At first glance, this might not sound so bad. While we certainly don’t want to be separated from God, the thought of being married to our own desires and plans doesn’t seem to be much of a penalty. Isn’t that more like a dream come true?

In reality this is judgment; this is punishment. Those who persist in sin and rebellion, God leaves to their own lust and allows them to walk in their own counsels. But notice that it does not say that the lust is fulfilled, or that the plans prosper.

When God gives a person up to his own lusts, his lusts consume him without end, because there is no true or lasting or deep satisfaction apart from God. It is to forever hunger, without ever being filled.

Similarly, the person who is left to her own counsel finds that she is like a blind person at the street corner, without a guide. She is free to walk any direction she pleases, but there is danger and destruction on every side.

As C.S. Lewis explained, there are two kinds of people in the end—those who say to the Father, “Thy will be done,” or those to whom the Father says, “thy will be done.” The great punishment for sin is getting our own way.( A Good Thing)